Treating Compression Fractures from Osteoporosis with Kyphoplasty at Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists in Lincoln and Omaha, NE
About two million fractures occur each year due to osteoporosis. Women over the age of 50 are more likely to develop osteoporosis. The condition is four times higher in women than men. Women's lighter, thinner bones and longer life spans are part of the reason they have a higher risk. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, there is a good chance that you may experience back pain from a compression fracture at some time in your life. Dr. Kelly Zach, a pain medicine physician at Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists in Lincoln, Nebraska, has extensive experience in treating compression fractures using Kyphoplasty.
What is a Compression Fracture?
Loss of bone strength makes the spine less able to withstand everyday stresses, such as a simple fall or even lifting an object. Continuous minor stresses can result in small fractures in the spine.
The part of the spine most vulnerable to fracture from low bone strength is the vertebral body. When a vertebral body is too weak to support the daily pressure placed on the spine, it may collapse, resulting in a compression fracture. Advanced osteoporosis can lead to multiple compression fractures throughout the spine.
What are Compression Fracture Symptoms?
Compression fracture symptoms may come on suddenly. A good example is when an individual falls and suddenly has back pain that gets worse while sitting or standing, yet has less back pain when lying down.
Symptoms of compression fractures include one or a combination of the following symptoms:
Sudden back pain
Pain increases when standing or walking
Limited movement in the spine
Loss of physical height
Noticeable deformity and disability
A compression fracture is more commonly diagnosed in individuals 50 years and older (or 45 years with osteoporosis) who have experienced acute back pain that comes on suddenly. Most patients have acute pain immediately after a fairly routine activity that slightly strains or jars the back, such as lifting, bending, or falling. This pain will usually get better after a few weeks, but can continue for several months for some individuals, and who may continue to have back pain long after the fractured bone has healed.
Treatment for the vertebral fracture can include non-surgical care, such as rest, pain medication, use of heat or ice for local pain, and slow return to normal activity. If back pain is still not resolved, surgery may be considered. One common surgery for this type of fracture is Kyphoplasty which is performed by Dr. Kelly Zach at Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists.
What is Kyphoplasty?
A Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure used to relieve pain associated with compression fractures of the vertebrae. This procedure is performed by Dr. Kelly Zach or Dr. Phillip Essay in the office setting. Is is done to protect against further collapse or compression of the spine, to reduce or stop the pain caused by a spinal fracture, and to stabilize the bone.
During the Kyphoplasty procedure, you will be consciously sedated. A needle with a balloon is inserted into the damaged vertebrae through an incision in the back. The balloon is inflated to create space for bone cement to be injected. Once the balloon is deflated and removed, Dr. Zach then inserts specially-formulated bone cement to stabilize the fracture. The cement hardens in about ten minutes and forms an internal cast to stabilize the spine.
The procedure can take 30 to 60 minutes. Following the procedure, you will be observed for approximately one hour before going home. You will need someone to drive you. Kyphoplasties have proven to be a very effective treatment for compression fractures.
Who is a Candidate for Kyphoplasty?
To be a candidate for Kyphoplasty, a patient's pain must be related to the vertebral fracture, and must not be due to other problems, such as disk herniation, arthritis, or stenosis (narrowing).
If you have experienced a compression fracture and have not found relief from chronic pain with other treatments, call Innovative Pain & Spine Specialists in Lincoln or Omaha, NE at 402-413-5010 to find out if you are a candidate for Kyphoplasty.